Rutgers’ offensive line has allowed 11 sacks — the same number as all of last season — but has led the way for a very successful rushing attack. (Mark Sullivan/MyCentralJersey.com)

By Josh Newman

PISCATAWAY — Despite injuries here and there through a 4-1 start, the Rutgers offensive line has proven to be very effective in terms of run-blocking.

The Scarlet Knights are averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 179.6 yards per game on the ground. Plus, three different running backs, Savon Huggins, Paul James and Justin Goodwin, have all rushed for at least 96 yards in a game. James and Goodwin have both eclipsed the 100-yard mark in at least one game.

Pass protection has not necessarily been a problem, but junior quarterback Gary Nova has been sacked 11 times despite enjoying the finest statistical season of his college career, having thrown for 1,171 yards, 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Nova was decked three times in Saturday’s 55-52 triple-overtime win at Southern Methodist.

Now, with Rutgers’ biggest game of the season coming on Thursday evening at consensus No. 8 Louisville, the Scarlet Knights’ offensive line is going to charged with the responsibility of keeping their quarterback upright while facing the American Athletic Conference’s leader in sacks, defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin, who has 5 ½, plus the two players tied for fifth. Linebacker Preston Brown and defensive end Marcus Smith, who each have three.

“The issues that Louisville presents is that they’re tough to run the ball against,” Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood said. “Because of that they’ve been able to get people off schedule. I thought in the last game, at times, we performed really well. Over the course of the full game, I believe it was 90 snaps on offense, we had some plays later in the game that hurt us a little bit.

“More so in the run game than in pass protection. We gave up some sacks but those weren’t necessarily one-on-ones. Overall, I think we did a pretty good job pass protecting, but it’s going to start with the ability to run the football on both sides. The team that runs the ball the best will probably have the best night in pass protection.”

Kevin Wilkins, a two-way starter at St. Joseph High School in Montvale with a future as a defensive tackle, verbally committed Tuesday night to Rutgers football, according to multiple recruiting services.

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Wilkins is considered a three-star recruit by both Scout.com and Rivals.com and the 17th-rated senior in New Jersey as ranked by NJVarsity.com. He reportedly had offers from Maryland, Central Florida, Connecticut, Temple and Boston College.

“Wilkins is one of the best pure athletes and football players in the state and will be a great fit at Rutgers,” ScarletReport.com’s Sam Hellman said. “He’s explosive, aggressive and great with his hands from a wrestling background. He’s a former (Don) Bosco guy and Darius Hamilton will take him under his wing immediately and turn him into a Big Ten-caliber defensive tackle.”

Added ScarletNation.com’s Matt Hladik, “This is a quality get for Rutgers. This kid always had the talent and work ethic but his academics were a question mark. Now that he appears to be working his way to clearing that up, it was a no-brainer to offer him. He has the size, strength, and explosiveness you want in an interior defensive lineman. His background as a wrestler and quick feet also help. I could see him being a very important piece to the defensive line in Big Ten play.”

That makes it two commitments in as many days and 25 overall in the 2014 class for Rutgers, which landed Florida native Lamont Simmons on Monday. The cornerback reportedly had offers from various Big Ten and SEC schools.

Four receivers have already topped 12 catches against Rutgers’ secondary this season.Louisville’s DeVante Parker is one of the best in the AAC, but will he play? (Courtesy of Louisville athletics)

By the time that last Saturday’s game ended, Rutgers strong safety Lorenzo Waters was tired of seeing No. 15 catch the ball.

SMU’s Jeremy Johnson smashed the single-game record for receptions against Rutgers with 18 for 217 yards and two touchdowns – and that’s not counting his remarkable two-point conversion feet drag.

It’s the kind of performance that could make DeVante Parker’s eyes light up, though Louisville’s top receiver is considered day-to-day for Thursday’s matchup against Rutgers due to a shoulder injury.

“We’ll make a decision on Thursday morning whether he can go or not,” Louisville’s Charlie Strong said on Monday’s American Athletic Conference coaches teleconference. “Our training room staff is giving him all the treatment we need to give him to try and get him out there to go play.”

Parker was injured at the end of a 38-yard catch-and-run during the first quarter Saturday against Temple. He returned to the locker room and re-emerged with his arm in a sling.

Strong told the Louisville Courier Journal that the decision on whether Parker, who has 21 catches for 375 yards and six touchdowns this season, is able to play will be a joint decision among Parker, the team trainers and the team doctor.

“We’re going to do what’s best for the young man,” he said.

Parker had a streak of 10 straight games with at least one touchdown catch snapped against Temple. He caught the go-ahead touchdown with 33 seconds remaining in the third quarter as Louisville completed its 11-point second-half comeback last season against Rutgers.

Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said he doesn’t take uncertain injuries like Parker’s into account when game-planning.

“I think they’ve got some players dinged up and we’ve got some players dinged up. Most will play and some may not be able to play,” Flood said. “It’s not going to change their personality or who they are on the football side of it. It’s not going to change who we are. I try not to pay attention to it. Just coach the team that I get to coach.”

But with Parker having been on the receiving end of 35 percent of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s 57 career touchdown passes, Rutgers could be staring at a repeat of the Garrett Gilbert-Jeremy Johnson connection if it does not clean up its mistakes fast.

In Rutgers’ first game of the season, Fresno State had a trio of receivers — Davante Adams (14), Josh Harper (14) and Isaiah Burse (13) — reach double figures in catches. Entering the season, Colgate’s Kyle Sanborn held the opponent record against Rutgers with 12 catches on Nov. 19, 1988.

“It wasn’t anything personal,” Waters said of the reason for Johnson’s effectiveness. “It was the scheme they had. They made some great adjustments at halftime and we had a tough adapting to it. After looking at the film, the things we did weren’t really anything monumental that really killed us. It was just missed tackles and bad communication.”

Did he get sick of seeing Johnson after a while?

“I was tired of him catching the ball in general,” Waters said. “That’s what it was.”

“What we would call our Thursday practice. The dress rehearsal game for the day. The entire game plan is in and installed.”

DID YOU GET EVERYTHING DONE THAT YOU WANTED TO IN THE SHORT WEEK?

“We did and we handled it – with the exception of the hitting – almost exactly like we would’ve handled a normal game week in terms of the installation plan. I thought the players and the coaches both did a great job of being very focused on what we had to do because we did have limited time in between the installs. That’s really where we lost the time. The time we spent in the meetings was about what we usually would spend.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RUTGERS-LOUISVILLE RIVALRY AND WHETHER IT’S SAD TO SEE IT LIKELY COME TO AN END AFTER THURSDAY?

“I forget who I heard say this but rivalries really can’t be forced. They happen because you play a certain program over time and the games are competitive and there are wins on both sides, which there have been. It’s just the nature of college football these days. As the conferences have changed – after this year they’re going to a new conference and we’re going to a new conference – but all that is in the future. I think this week what people are going to get a chance to see – whether it’s the last time or not I don’t know, I can’t predict that – but what they’ll get to see this Thursday night is two really hard-nosed tough, physical teams playing this Thursday night.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT’S BECOME A BIG RIVALRY? IT’S PROBABLY RUTGERS’ BIGGEST RIVAL EVER.

“I don’t know that. I think the games we play with Louisville are very competitive and have that kind of feel to them. There are other teams in our conference that we played and when those games come up you may feel the same way. But there is no question that when there is a team that you’ve had competitive football games with over the course of time there is going to be a heightened sense of awareness of it.”

WITH LOUISVILLE HAVING SO MANY INJURY ISSUES HOW MUCH DO YOU GAME PLAN FOR THAT?

“I don’t think you can. I felt last year that Teddy (Bridgwater) would play. He didn’t start but he did. I think they’ve got some players dinged up and we’ve got some players dinged up. Most will play and some may not be able to play. It’s not going to change their personality or who they are on the football side of it. It’s not going to change who we are. I try not to pay attention to it. Just coach the team that I get to coach.”

ARE YOU SURPRISED LOUISVILLE COACH CHARLIE STRONG CALLED THIS THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY?

“I’m not surprised. I think they’ve got an excellent football team. I think Charlie believes in his football players and I certainly believe in mine. It will be a good test on Thursday night for both of us.”

THAT KIND OF GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN OF WHAT MOST COACHES DO. COULD YOU EVER IMAGINE DOING THAT IF YOU WERE IN THE POSITION OR IS IT NOT IN YOUR PERSONALITY?

“Whoever the No.1 team is in the country right now is meaningless. We’re not even halfway through the season yet and there are going to be so many games played between now and the end of the regular season. Until maybe the last couple weeks I don’t know that there is any value to it. I don’t know if it’s anybody’s goal to be the No. 1 team in the country in week 5 of 6. It’s certainly not mine.”

WHAT KIND OF WEAPON CAN YOUR RUSHING ATTACK BE IN HELPING OUT YOUR DEFENSE AGAINST TEDDY BRIDGWATER BY KEEPING THE BALL AWAY FROM HIM?

“I think it depends on how it evolves in the game. If it’s a rushing game where you are getting three, four, five, six yards a carry then you are going to take up more time. If you break a few big ones, then you are going to score a little quicker and not take up as much time. But I don’t focus on that. It’s the offenses job to score points. It’s not to gather up time of possession. When we start the game we’re going to call the offense to score points and if that puts Teddy Bridgewater back on the field so be it. We’ve got to play defense.”

WHAT DO YOU SEE FROM SOME OF THE YOUNG GUYS LIKE JOHN TSIMIS AND KEMOKO TURAY WHO HAVE DRESSED BUT NOT PLAYED?

“I think they’re getting better. Next week, after this game, we’ve got a little more time to evaluate those guys and see for the second half of the season who can help us, but that’s really not where our focus is right now. Those guys are helping us get ready to be 1-0 this week and that’s really where the program’s focus is.”

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT LOUISVILLE STARTING FAST? IN THEIR FIVE GAMES THIS SEASON, THEY HAVE SCORED TOUCHDOWNS ON THEIR FIRST DRIVE FOUR TIMES?

“I don’t know that it concerns me. We want to make sure that we’re ready to play (on) play one. I’m sure they will be ready to play. We’re going to make sure that we’re ready to play. The game will be 60 minutes long. I don’t know that it will matter necessarily who the first team to score is. This will be a 60-minute game and we’ve played a couple of them already this year. I think we’re battle-tested and ready for it.”

PISCATAWAY – Southern Methodist quarterback Garrett Gilbert may have thrown for 484 yards and five touchdowns in a 55-52 triple-overtime loss to Rutgers on Saturday, but the Scarlet Knights were able to good pressure on Gilbert, evidenced by four sacks.

Of those four sacks, three of them belonged to players who do not play on the defensive line. Middle linebacker Steve Longa, weak-side linebacker Kevin Snyder and strong safety Johnathan Aiken all registered one each.

The fact that non-lineman got to Gilbert multiple times on Saturday in Dallas speaks to the fact that Rutgers’ ever-changing defensive game-plan was effective against a quarterback that generally likes to stay in the pocket.

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